Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-01-15

10 emit the grunt tnat ID deemed by
professional spike drivers to be indis-
pensable with the task. Noticeab,y
fluent In this kind of remarks had
been Major Macqu ueen, and when
Judge Strevell had wearily resigned
the maui he said with what breath he
had remaining: "Let Major Mac
queen drive one; he seems to know
how 1t should be done.n The sUgges.
tion was quickly taken up by the
crowd with the expectation that the
Major would be found backward. but
there is where they were way off. The
Major is Dandy-in fact we might go
further and proclaim him q Jo-Daudy,
which term Is understood to compass
superlative grit and merit. By the
time new spike had been provided
the Major had ISL ed bis castor into
the ring" end stood in q proudly de-
fiant attitude, coat and hat of, and
with gray locks floating in the chi.
nook. His ruddy face bore look OF
stern determination and q steely CLINT
In hi, eye, In fact, in both his eyes.
Standing in an easy attitude he waited
until the long thirty.two had been
started by few gentle taps by one Of
the construction crew. Then squar
ing himself for his work-if one car
imagine so round body rs square
he delivered tremendous blow; there
Is no doubt In the minds of those pres
ent that the blow was intended fol
the spike, but 1t missed 1t by four OF
five inches, and meeting no resistanc ce
until II struck the timber. nearly jerk.
ed the Major off his feet by the mo-
mentum Of misdirected energy. The
next blow oversbot the mark an inch
or two, but the handle OF the maui
came down squarely On the spike and
sent such shock through the Major
that he dropped it and wanted 10 quit,
but the audience encored him
and he obligingly came on again.
Being not SO self-rel:ant and stiff
necked rs he had been, he proceeded
In more cautious manner, and aftel
ten minutes hard work had driver
the spike about six inches, when th,
welcome cry of dinner put stop Il
labor. An adjournment was quickly
had to the camp and the party wer'
soon arrayed around the table pre-
pared to do full Justice to the very ex
cellent meal which had been pur,
veyed. After half An hour spent in
gastronomic exercise. Judge Strevell
as tosst-master took the floor and
called upon several of the party to re.
spond to various sentiments which be
offered. Among the speakers were
Col. Gibson, Major Snyder. Mr.. Cor
don, Major Macqueen, Mr.. Jordan
Col. Bryan, Mr.. Robinson and Col
Con,stock. The hsppiest speech wa
made by Major Snyder. who beins
called to respond to the toast of 9Th
Dam," amused the company with
speech replete with licenced proianil!
neatly strung together, in whIcl
everything was NJ thorough.
damned as the Tongue river vii
I've when the work IL completed
the eloquenr- Of the party beinI
exhausted. they sought the opeI
air where Mr.. Huffman arrange,
them in most suggestive group an
took an instantaneous photograph Q
them. This photo has been copy
righted aud is for private circulation
only. Another view of the dam con
pleted the Sightseeing aud the excul
islonists then loaded themselves int
their sleigh and started hUmeward
on the road home a merry snowba
J fight was maintained nearly up to th
city limits and the party arrived tire
out with the unusual exertion but on
aud all voting ii be to the best day :
spoGt they had had since they wer
J boys. Everything had gone right ex
cept the two spikes that Judge sire
J veil and Major Macqueen had esssyeC
10 drive.